Archive

Animation

Robot and Scarecrow

July 17, 2017
Animation, Science Fiction
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Two outliers of society – one a coddled superstar android, the other a forgotten farmland scarecrow, find each other at a music festival, a place as ever representative of the hedonistic and compassionate extremes of human behavior.

Within the tragic constraints of impending death, our organic and mechanical protagonists carve a niche into the world they find themselves in, and inside that niche discover a connection, birthed in the maelstrom of social exclusion – a sentiment I very much identify with.

With exceptional and seamless CGI, graceful cinematography, combined with Nils Frahm’s heart-rending composition ‘Says‘, this production is a beautiful and powerful offering by director Kibwe Tavares.

Directed by Kibwe Tavares

Released: 2017

ProductionL Factory Fiften

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Life Without Stuff

June 18, 2017
Animation
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This is the first work we’ve featured by Scorch Motion, and I don’t think it will be the last. This wonderful and humorous little animation uses perfect comedic timing and a vivid 8-bit ‘Minecraft’ style to convey ‘a day in the life’ for some unfortunate people where random items, some critical, some banal, mysteriously disappear without warning. It’s even funnier because one doesn’t hear the responses of the victims of this phenomena, but I’d assume it would be a sharp curse. I’m still giggling on my fourth viewing.

Great work – simple, expressive, funny. Reminds me of another ‘what if’ film I love to watch, Tiny Worlds.

Created by Scorch Motion (link)

Released 2017

Anatomi

May 21, 2017
Animation, Uncategorized
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Modern scientific prophets remind us of the wonder of the human form and its apparently miraculous functional properties – yet to some sufferers of chronic physiological and mental issues, the body can be little more than a monstrously deficient and impedimentary vehicle.

Within a sullen, funny, and dark Powerpoint presentation style, our narrator cites a bitter litany of ailments that have afflicted him through his life, utilizing a disconnected and digitized voice littered with curses, blame, and curmudgeonly charming annoyance.

Swedish director Patrik Eklund is well accomplished, with numerous awards under his belt including an Academy Awards nomination for Best Short Film (live action) with Istället för abrakadabra (Instead of Abracadabra) in 2008.

Director: Patrik Eklund

Released 2016.

The Pearce Sisters

April 13, 2015
Animation
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Disturbing, strangely heart warming and extremely macabre offering from Aardman Studios. Two spinsters of indeterminate age eke out a living on the coast of a troubled sea, a peculiar but loving bond between them.

And they’re going to have house guests, no matter what it takes…

Directed by Luis Cook

Links to movie page here.

Abiogenesis

August 26, 2014
Animation, Science Fiction
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It’s not often you get to see CGI modelling of this quality done with such a strong conceptual element. In this piece by talented director and artist Robert Mans, we observe an alternate kind of  invasion that places us in a day-in-the-life of a highly-efficient life-seeding robotic organism. The use of imagery in the film of insect-like wings, mandibles and thorns is extremely effective, at times feeling like the trippy sci-fi of The Fountain and other moments smacking of a scary DARPA demonstration video. I wish more mainstream sci-fi films were this inventive and thought-provoking.

Directed by: Robert Mans (link)

Released: 2014

Tetra Vaal

March 28, 2014
Animation
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I’ve been keeping a close eye on Neill Blomkamp and I’ve only just found this four year old short made back in 2010. Mimicking a corporate promotional film, it shows the ‘future in law enforcement’ on the streets of a South African city. The flawlessly executed CGI we were wowed by in ‘Distict 9’ (and to a lesser extent in ‘Elysium’) is right here – the future is here, unassuming and integrated. It’s a little terrifying, very political and really cool.

Similar to ‘Alive in Joburg’, it’s also slated for a full-feature length adaptation as Chappie in early 2015.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

Released: 2010

Junkyard

February 14, 2014
Animation
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Using mixed media, including oil, two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, this melancholy story is woven from the story of two boys, drawn to different paths, violently re-connected. Its bleak tones reminded me of The Snowman by Briggs, and contained a timeless noir akin to Program, directed by Kawajiri from the Animatrix series. The fourth film by Hisko Hulsing, I’ll be following his work closely.

 

Written and Directed by Hisko Hulsing

Released: 2014

Wind

January 25, 2014
Animation
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Similar to a previously posted film, La Maison en Petits Cubes, this humorous piece shows a community working to deal with a challenging environment in such a way that is distinctly human and underlies why it’s hard to despise this species for all its flaws. A whimsical ‘day in the life’ and a pleasure to watch.

Directed by: Robert Löbel

Released: 2013